Portable elevator for overhead installations



May 4, 1954 c. MINZENMAYER PORTABLE ELEVATOR FOR OVERHEAD INSTALLATIONS2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10, 1951 INVENTOR.

r l l C. MINZENMAYER PORTABLE ELEVATOR FOR OVERHEAD INSTALLATIONS FiledNOV. 10, 1951 May 4, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

C H/QELES M/A/zEA/MAIYEIZ HTTOENEYS Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATETENT OFFICE.

EGRTLE ELEVATOR FOR OVERHEAD INSTALLATIONS This invention relates to aportable elevator for overhead installations and more particularly to anelevator adapted to raise and position overhead fixtures such aslighting fixtures.

When it is desired to install overhead lighting fixtures it is customaryfor the workman or workmen to lift the fixture manually and position thesame against the ceiling or overhead to which it is desired to affix itand then hold the fixture while it is being secured by nuts or bolts.Such a procedure is extremely difficult, even when two men are employed,because of the unnatural overhead position of the workmans arms.Furthermore the weight of such fixtures is considerable, especiallyindustrial fixtures the length of which, when fluorescent lights areinvolved, may exceed seven feet. Because of the weight involved seriousaccidents have been caused in the past when installation of a fixturehas been attempted without employing sufficient workmen.

In large rooms and industrial plants when it is desired to installoverhead fixtures it is not uncommon to have three men continuouslyemployed on such work and of these three, two will merely be holding thefixture while the other secures the necessary nuts or bolts. It isextremely desirable to obviate the necessity of holding the fixture withthe attendant expense involved especially when a large number offixtures must be installed.

The main object of the present invention is therefore the provision of aportable elevator for lifting such light fixtures and positioning thesame so that only one workman is required to secure the fixture inplace.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a portable elevatorfor lighting fixtures which eliminates all of the safety hazardsinherent in the operation of securing such fixtures to an overhead orceiling. In this connection it should be noted that the customaryprocedure heretofore followed has required the provision of someelevated means on which the workmen may stand while holding the fixturein place. In buildings under construction it is not uncom men for theworkmen to resort to any available article for this purpose withoutgiving much thought to the stability of such article. By the presentinvention a stable support is always provided for the fixture and allthat is required in addition is a step ladder or the like for theworkman who is securing the fixture in place.

. Still another object of the invention is the provision of a portableelevator for lifting and posi- 2 Claims. (01. 304-29) I tioning lightingfixtures which will permit exact positioning of the fixture in place onthe ceiling by th workman who may remain on the floor during thepositioning operation if desired.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an elevator foroverhead fixtures which may be readily adapted for use with lightingfixtures of various sizes.

A still further object is the provision of a relatively small,lightweight portable elevator for lifting and positioning overheadfixtures which is adapted to be carried in elevators and throughdoorways and the like having restricted vertical clearance and whichelevator may be readily extended to the height of even the highestoverhead.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingspecification and from the attached drawings.

The invention will be described particularly with respect to theinstallation of lighting fixtures but it will be apparent that the samemay be employed to secure other fixtures to a ceiling or overhead. Forexample wall board, accoustieai tile and the like may also be installedon an overhead or ceiling by means of the present invention.

In the drawings:

l is front elevational view of the elevator partly broken away and insection showing the same in a nested or lowered position. Portions ofthe device on the rear side are omitted for clarity.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the elevator of Fig. 1 with certainportions broken away to show structure.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the elevator astaken along lines 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the fixture support of theelevator showing a lighting fixture in position on said support andadjacent a ceiling or overhead. The fixture is broken away to showinternal structure.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the elevator partly broken away andin section showing the platform in a raised position and the fixturesupport in a horizontally extended position. Portions of the device onthe front side are omitted for clarity.

Fig. 6 is a reduced semi-schematic end elevational view of the essentialportions of the e1evator showing the same in a vertically extendedposition.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed vertical cross- 3 sectional view throughthe fixture support as taken along lines l'i of Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view through the guidemember as taken along lines e% of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view through the guidemember as taken along lines 99 of Fig. 2.

In detail the elevator comprises a frame generally designated l whichincludes a generally oblong bed 2 having its opposite ends formed ofchannels 3 and its opposite sides of angles 4.

The bed 2 is provided with caster wheels 5 to permit manual movement ofthe frame over a fioor. Adjacent the ends of the bed 2 are a pair ofvertically extending guide members 6, i of T- shaped cross-section.These members are rigidly secured at their lower ends to the channels 3as by welding or by riveting to an angle 8 extending longitudinally ofthe bed 2 and secured to the channels 3.

Diagonal braces H), II extending between the upper ends of the guidemembers 5, 1, respectively, and the bed 2 serve to maintain said guidemembers in an upright position.

A platform generally designated i2 is adapted to be moved upwardly anddownwardly along the length of guide members 9, i. This platform l2comprises a generally oblong plate 13 substantially the length of thebed 2 and which is provided along its side edges with stiifening anglesl4, l5. Angle I5 is positioned in sliding engagement with the flange ofthe T-shaped guide members 5, 7 while angle I4 is along the oppositeedge of plate i3 (Figs. 1, 2).

Secured to the underside of plate l3 adjacent its opposite ends are apair of bracket members generally designated IE, IT respectively. Thesebrackets comprise a channel-shaped horizontal portion i3 secured at itsweb to the plate l3 and a vertically extending portion l9 with its webin sliding engagement with the outwardly facing surface of the flange ofthe adjacent guide member 6 or T. A brace 29 extending between the outerend of the portion I8 and the vertical portion it serves to stiffen thebracket (Fig. 2).

For the purpose of slidably securing the brackets 55, i"! to the guidemembers 6, 'I, respectively, rollers 22, 23, 24 are provided on eachvertical portion i9 of the brackets I6, I? in rolling engagement withthe adjacent guide member. Roller 22 is positioned closely adjacent thetop of the platform 12 and, as best seen in Fig. 9, is secured to ashaft 25 which in turn is rotatably supported in a bearing 26. A plate21 secured to one flange of the channel portion I9 of the bracket servesto carry the bearing 29 so that the roller 22 engages the inner side ofthe flange 28 of the guide member 6 or "i. Only the securement ofbracket I! will be described in detail it being understood that thesecurement of bracket Hi to guide member 6 is identical.

Roller 23 is spaced downwardly under roller 22 and is secured to thevertical portion 19 of bracket IT in the same manner as roller 22.

Roller 24 is positioned adjacent the lower end of channel portion 19 inthe manner shown in Fig. 8. A pair of bearings 30 are secured to theopposedly facing sides of the flanges of channel portion i9 and thesebearings rotatably support a shaft 3! to which the roller 24 is secured.An opening 32 is formed in the web of channel l9 through which theroller 2:1 extends into engagement with the adjacent face of flange 28of guide member ii. Angles 29 are secured along one of 4 their flangesto channel 19 and their other flanges engage the inner face of flange 28of guide I.

From the above description and referring to Fig. 2 it will be apparentthat the rollers 22, 23 resist any tendency of the platform I2 to swingdownwardly and outwardly away from the guide i and the lower roller 24resists inward and upward swinging of the lower end of the bracket i1.Thus a couple is established by rollers 22-24 for maintaining theplatform [2 in a horizontal position at all times and also forminimizing the frictional resistance to movement of the platform I2along the guides 6, i.

It should be noted that the platform l2 may be moved upwardly alongguides 65, I to a position with plate l3 spaced upwardly from the upperends of guides 6, I. In such a case the upper roller 22 will be out ofengagement with the associated guide but rollers 23, 24 will besufficient to maintain the platform in its desired horizontal positionprovided the weight on platform I2 is not too great.

Platform I2 is preferably power driven and to this end a reversiblemotor 35 is supported on a bracket generally designated 36 which in turnis secured to a pair of vertically extending stiffeners 31, 38 (Fig. 5)which may be secured at their lower ends to angle 8 and at their upperends to a similar angle 39 extending between the upper ends of guides6, 1. The motor 35 is thus supported on the side of the guide members 6,T opposite from the side supporting the platform 12.

Mounted above the motor 35 and also secured to stiffeners 31, 33 as by asupport generally desighated 40 is a reducer generally designated ii ofconventional design. Reducer 4| is provided with and input shaft 42which is driven by a belt 43 from the shaft of motor 35. The outputshaft 44 of reducer l! extends in a direction horizontally inwardly ofthe frame I and carries a drum 45 on which ropes 46, 47 are adapted tobe wound (Fi 5).

Rope 46 extends upwardly from drum 45 and around a sheave 48 which issecured to angle 39 about centrally of the latter. Hope 46 then extendshorizontally alongside angle 39 to a point adjacent the upper end ofguide member 7 and then around sheave 49 and downwardly to a bracket 50which is secured to the vertically extending portion I9 of bracket l2 ata point adjacent the lower end of said portion (Figs. 1, 5). Aturnbuckle 5| may be secured to the rope 46 adjacent the bracket 12 topermit adjusting the platform to the desired horizontal position.

The rope 4'! extends in a similar manner to rope 46 and extends aroundsheaves 52, 53 secured to angle 8 and then downwardly to bracket 54through turnbuckle 55.

It will be apparent from the above described structure that when motor35 is operated to rotate the drum 45 clockwise as seen in Fig. 5 theplatform l2 will be raised and when the direction of rotation of motor35 is reversed the platform will be lowered. A conventional switch box60 may be mounted on vertical stiffener 31 adjacent the motor 35 for thepurpose of controlling the above described operation of motor 35.

For limiting the downward movement of the platform 2 a limit switch 6|is mounted on the base 2 and a contact member 62 may be rigidly securedto the bracket 59 so as to engage said switch for stopping the motor 35when said platform is in its lowermost position.

For limiting the upward movement of platform [2 a limit switch 63 isprovided on the upper horizontal angle as and a contact member 64 issecured to the vertical channel portion l9 of platform 52 so that saidmember engages the limit switch at and stops the motor 35 just beforethe intermediate rollers 23 are disengaged from the guides l. Theplatform i2 is shown in its lowest position in l, and in its highestposition in Fig. 6.

Positioned over the platform i2 is the fixture support generallydesignated 65 which is adapted to receive the fixture to be secured tothe overhead or ceiling. This fixture support comprises a pair ofhorizontally spaced angles 61, 68 which extend longitudinally of theframe I and which may be secured together at spaced points along theirhorizontally disposed flanges by means of plates $9 (Figs. 2,7).

Secured to the underside of the support E56 are a plurality ofvertically disposed rods which may be rigidly secured at their upperends to angles 6?, 8E and plates lit and rigidly secured at their lowerends to a generally oblong base generally designated ii. Base H may beconveniently formed from a pair of longitudinally extending angles l2,:3 defining the side edges of said base and transversely extending latesM secured at their opposite ends to said angles.

The rods iii are preferably arranged in two groups or three each withsaid groups spaced longitudinally of the fixture support 65. Each groupof three rods is arranged in the form of an equilateral triangle withone rod at each corner of the triangle and with two rods spacedtransversely of the support be adjacent the end of the latter and thethird rod positioned centrally between the longitudinally extendingsides of said support (Fig. 3).

For the purpose of slidably supporting rods 78 on the platform i2sleeves ii are secured about centrally between their ends to plate l3 ofsaid platform 32 which may be suitably apertured to receive saidsleeves.

The fixture support $36 is adapted to be moved upwardly from theposition shown in Figs. 1, 2 to different distances as desired fromplatform [2 and to its highest position as shown in Fig. 6.

For the purpose of so moving fixture support 56 a reducer is secured tothe underside of horizontal plate it of platform 2 at a point centrallyof its length. This reducer is preferably manually operated by means ofa hand crank 19 so that very slight movements of the fixture support 65may be effected if desired. Reducer 18 is provided with an output shaft39 to which is secured a drum ill similar to drum 55 on the output shaftof reducer ll. Wound on drum 8! are a pair of ropes 83. Rope 82 extendsgenerally upwardly and outwardly from the bottom of drum 8i and ispassed around sheave M which in turn is secured to the underside ofplate l3 of platform l2 at a point centrally between the side edges ofthe same. Rope 82 then extends downwardly through the base ll of thefixture support 66 which suitably apertured to receive said rope andaround a sheave 35 secured to the underside of said base "ii. The sheave35 is positioned so that it is directly under the rod iii which iscentrally between the side edges of the base ll. Rope 82 then passesupwardly through the base ll and is secured at its upper end to theunderside of plate 53 of platform E2. Turnbuckle 85 may be interposedbetween the end of the rope 82 and the plate i3 to permit adjustment inthe alignment of platform l2.

. Rope 83 extends from the top of drum 8| in a direction oppositelyoutwardly of rope 82' and is run in a manner identical to rope 82 exceptthat it extends to the opposite side of the drum 8i than rope $2.Sheaves 8?, 88 and turnbuckle 89 are employed with rope in a mannercorresponding with sheaves 84, 85 and turnbuckle 86 respectively.

It will be noted that the upper sheaves 8d and 87! are positioned withrespect to the adjacent rod ill so that the generally downwardlyextending runs of ropes 82, 83 make substantially the same angle withthe adjacent rod iii as the up wardly extending runs of said ropes. Bythis arrangement the forces brought to bear on the base ll of thefixture support fit are directed vertically upwardly so that there is notendency for the rode it to cook in their corresponding guides ll. Thisis very important as it is desirable to make the entire device as lightas possible so that it may be manually moved. By the introduction ofundesirable lateral forces the design of the device would requireoojectionably heavy elements which are obviated by the presentinvention. It should be noted in this connection that rods ll) have beenmade diameter and four feet long Without causing objectionable bendingunder the loading of the heaviest type of lighting fixture.

The features of the fixture support 56 which permit it to be extendedand telescoped to receive fixtures 01" various sizes will now bedescribed.

As best seen in Fig. '7 each of the longitudinally extending angles 6'1,68 of the fixture support 65 is provided with a pair of longitudinallyextending tubular guides Hi, 92 which are respectively secured to theopposite sides of the upstanding flange 93 of angle 51. Inasmuch as theattachments to angles 6'! and 68 ar identical, only the parts associatedwith angle 6? will be described in detail.

The tubular guides Q5, 92 are open ended and are provided with slots 93,ea respectively along their upper sides which are adapted to receiveflat bars 9d, 96 respectively therethrough. lhe fiat bars 95, aresecured along their lower edges to rods 9i, 98 respectively which inturn slidably received in the tubular guides Si, 92. For ease inassembly, the rods 68 may each be replaced by a pair of half roundssecured to the opposite sides of the fiat bars 95, 96 as shown in Fig.7.

Secured to the outer fiat bar 85 along its upper edge is one end of aplate or supporting element 99 which extends transversely of the fixturesupport 56 and is secured at its other end in a similar manner to thecorresponding outer fiat bar 95 carried by angle 63. Referring to Figs.1, 3, 4 it will be seen that plate 99 defines one end of the fixturesupport $6.

In a similar manner a plate or supporting element lilil extends betweenand is secured to the inner flat bars at at the ends of the latteropposite to the supporting element 95 and defines the other end of thesupport 6%. It will be apparent that by pulling outwardly on element 9?in a direction away from the machine the outer section which comprisesfiat bars 95 and element 99 may be extended to a position such as thatshown in Fig. 4. In like manner the section which comprises inner fiatbars 36 and supporting element ififl may be pulled oppositely outwardlyto a corresponding outer position. By the above described structure thesupport to may be readily extended or telescoped to suit whateverdesired length of fixture itis desired to install.

When supporting lighting fixtures it is sometimes desirable to giveadditional support to the fixture at points intermediate the length ofsuch fixture and at the same time permit access to the inside of thefixture for securing the latter in place. To this end I providelongitudinally movable intermediate supporting elements such asindicated at I03, 34 Fig. 3. Element I03 is carried by the outer sectionof the support on fiat bars 95 while element I04 is carried by flat bars96 of the inner section. Element I03 may be formed of fiat plate into adownwardly opening channel shape having depending flanges 105 to each ofwhich is secured the corresponding ends of a pair of short shafts I06.The other ends of shafts I66 are supported on ears I01 depending fromthe inner side of element I03. Shafts I06 serve to rotatably supportrollers 138 which are adapted to roll along tracks I69 secured to theouter side of flat bars 95 (Figs. 1, 4, 5, 7).

In like manner the movable fixture support element in: is provided withrollers I09 which support said element for movement along the length oftracks H secured to flat bars 96.

By the above described structure it is a simple matter to move theelements i03, I04 to any convenient support points along the length ofthe fixture and at the same time permit access to the fixture betweenthe angles 61, 68 where desired.

When the device is not in use the platform [2 and the fixture support 66may be positioned in their lowest position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 byoperation of the drums 45 and BI. If it is del sired to install ahanging fixture such as indicated at H6 in Figs. 4 and 6 the fixture maybe placed on the fixture support 66 after the latter has been extendedor telescoped as required to accommodate the length of the fixture. Atthe same time the intermediate fixture support elements l 3, H34 may bemoved as desired so as to permit access through the support 66 to theholes ill which are generally formed in the upper wall of the fixture toreceive studs H2 depending from the ceiling or overhead H3. The platforml2 may then be raised by means of the motor 35 and reducer 4| until thefixture H6 is closely adjacent the ceiling H3 or in about the positionindicated in Fig. 4. The workman may then mount a step ladder (notshown) and visually inspect the relationship between the studs 1 l2 andthe openings l l l and while on the ladder he may then turn the crank 19on reducer 18 to cause the fixture support 66 to move upwardly until thefixture engages the overhead or ceiling H3 with the studs E I2 passingthrough the holes H l in the fixture. The fixture may then be secured inplace by nuts in the usual manner while the weight of the fixture isbeing taken by the support 66.

Depending upon the particular installation the above procedure may bevaried somewhat. For example if the ceiling is not too high the fixturemay be placed on the device and raised any de sired distance by means ofcrank 13. The operator may then operate motor 35 from the floor andraise platform i2 until the fixture is closely adjacent the overhead. Ifnecessary the device may be moved on wheels until the holes H l in thefixture are in registration with the studs l l2 and then the motor maybe operated again to raise the fixture upwardly into engagement with theceiling. The operator may then mount his ladder and secure the fixturein place. The support 66 may then be retracted and the device moved intoposition for the next fixture.

It has been found that use of the present invention not only permits theinstallation of lighting fixtures by one man but the operation may beperformed faster and safer than heretofore when two or even three menhave been required.

The fact that the elevator may be telescoped to the position of Figs. 1,2 permits the same to be taken through doors from one room to the nextand it may be moved from fioor to floor in an elevator.

In many instances, particularly where fragile fixtures could be easilyinjured by being forced against the ceiling, the operator may effectelevation of platform [2 and support 66 (with the latter in its closestposition to platform [2) by means of motor 35. In a normal office room,a fixture on the support 66 would not reach the ceiling by the time thelimit switch 63 was actuated, hence the final elevation of the fixturewould be by actuation of crank 1'9, thereby precluding any accidentalinjury to the fixture by not stopping the motor in time, or by anoverrunning of the motor after the manually actu-- ated switch wasactuated.

The reducers 4|, 1% are of the conventional worm-gear type so as toprevent any movement of the platform 52 and support 66 either up or downby gravity alone. Either the motor or the crank must be operated toaccomplish either result.

The connection H5 between crank l9 and the input shaft to reducer 78 maybe of the conventional ratchet type to enable elevation of the support66 by either full rotation of the crank or by oscillation thereof asdesired, the latter being desirable in instance where the operator mayfind it easier to both watch the fixture and operate the crank byoscillatory movement of the latter.

As seen in the drawings, the upper supporting surface of the support 66is coplanar. Thus the fixture may or may not overhang the edges of thesupport without affecting the level of the fixture. Also, in the eventpanels of ceiling board are elevated to the ceiling, their marginalportions may extend beyond one or all edges of the support, and still beheld flat against the ceiling. Usually the end marginal portions of suchpanels will extend beyond the support, and if not, the extensibleportions of the latter may be collapsed until they do, thus permittingsaid marginal portions to be nailed in place while they are supported bythe elevator.

The ropes for elevating the platform l2 and support 66 are preferablywire ropes.

I claim:

1. A portable elevator for elevating an overhead fixture or the like toa point adjacent the ceiling of a room to permit securement of saidfixture to said ceiling comprising: a wheel mounted frame adapted to bemoved over the floor of such room and including a bed and a guide memberextending upwardly from said bed, a generally horizontally disposedplatform mounted on said frame for vertical movement along guide memberfrom a lower position adjacent said g ...e member to an upper positionspaced upwardly from said member, means on said frame for so moving saidplatform, a fixture support carried by said platform and adapted toreceive a fixture or the like thereon, means on said platform for movingsaid support vertically to different distances from said platform asdesired, said platform and said support being movable to a lowerposition in which the same are within the horizontally projectedconfines of said guide members, said fixture support including a basespaced downwardly from said support and below said platform, elongatedrods connecting said support with said base and guide elements on saidplatform for slidably supporting said rods for vertical movementtherealong, said platform and said support being adapted to bepositioned in a lower position with said base adjacent said bed and saidsupport adjacent said platform.

2. A portable elevator for elevating an overhead fixture or the like toa point adjacent the ceiling of a room to permit securement of saidfixture to said ceiling comprising: a wheel mounted frame adapted to bemoved over the floor of such room and including a bed and a guide memberextending upwardly from said bed, a generally horizontally disposedplatform mounted on said frame for vertical movement along said guidemember from a lower position adjacent said guide member to an upperposition spaced upwardly from said member, means on said frame for somoving said platform, a fixture support carried by said platform andadapted to receive a fixture or the like thereon, means on said platformfor moving said support vertically to different distances from saidplatform as desired,

said platform and said support being movable to a lower position inwhich the same are within the horizontally projected confines of saidguide members, said fixture support including a base spaced downwardlyfrom said support and below said platform, elongated rods connectingsaid support with said base and guide elements on said platform forslidably supporting said rods for vertical movement therealong, saidplatform and said support being adapted to be positioned in a lowerposition with said base adjacent said bed and said support adjacent saidplatform, said means for so moving said support including a ropeextending between said platform and said base and a drum on saidplatform on which said rope is adapted to be wound, said rope having apair of runs connected to said base at a point on the latter andslanting oppositely outwardly and upwardly of said point at equal anglesto a vertical line through said point.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 487,039 Volz Nov. 20, 1892 1,332,011 Weinberg Feb. 24, 19201,555,103 Christian Sept. 29, 1925 2,337,796 Baker et a1 Dec. 28, 19132,480,066 Weaver Aug. 23, 1949

